Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk says he will vacate all his belts – but is not retiring.

The 39-year-old, who has an undefeated professional record of 25 wins, held the WBA ‘super’, WBC and IBF belts.

“This is a well-considered decision that I am confident will open new opportunities for me. This is not the end of the story. The continuation lies ahead,” he said on X.

The Ukrainian said in the build-up to his last fight in May – a gritty win over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt – that he still wanted to fight on two more occasions before considering whether to hang up the gloves.

In a video message posted on Friday he added: “I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold to make them available for the guys next in line to fight for them.

“Friends, I’m leaving the belts but not the sport because I still have my last dance.”

Two-time undisputed world champion Usyk was pushed to his limits by Verhoeven, who had competed only once in boxing but had a formidable record from kickboxing, eventually finishing the fight late in the 11th round.

Mandatory challengers are enforced on a rotating basis between sanctioning bodies, and the WBC had ordered Usyk to fight Agit Kabayel next.

The undefeated German is widely viewed as the most deserving contender yet to receive his opportunity. And with the sanctioning bodies now having a decision to make, he could be elevated to champion.

A rematch with Verhoeven may now make sense for Usyk.

Having dominated the cruiserweight division, Usyk made his heavyweight debut in 2019 and went on to defeat both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury twice.

Briton Daniel Dubois, who lost to twice to Usyk, holds the WBO belt after defeating Fabio Wardley earlier this year.